Natural Resources Canada says a magnitude 4.4 earthquake was recorded east of Fox Creek, Alberta on Saturday.

Fox Creek is located in the northwestern part of the province and is home to about 2,000 people. It is located on Highway 43, approximately 259 km northwest of Edmonton and 199 km southeast of Grande Prairie, and has an elevation of 808 m.

The town is largely sustained by oil and gas development.

This is the second earthquake to happen near the town this year. The first one was back on January 22. That quake was also a 4.4-magnitude.

Alberta's energy regulator said the earthquake was likely caused by hydraulic fracturing.

Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well.